[markhunt]

Originally Posted by Lulu101

I went on a weekend trip from one part of Fla. to another recently, and not crossing state lines didn't dampen my enjoyment of the trip.

That's great. Glad you enjoyed yourself. Those kind of trips were good for me the 1st year I lived here too. But for me it's a brain drain here now and I need to broaden my horizons with the the choices I had before.

[Mike Peterson]

Originally Posted by markhunt

Westport Connecticut to NYC = 45 minute drive

Westport Connecticut to Boston = 2 and half hour drive

And many other spots within 1-4 hour drive time. Cape Cod, Philly, Newport, RI, etc...

Easy access for day or weekend trips to world class cities and such.

Where does 1-4 hours of drive time get you if you live in Florida?

Ft.Lauderdale, Disney World, St.Augustine, Anna Maria Island

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by markhunt

Westport Connecticut to NYC = 45 minute drive

Westport Connecticut to Boston = 2 and half hour drive

And many other spots within 1-4 hour drive time. Cape Cod, Philly, Newport, RI, etc...

Easy access for day or weekend trips to world class cities and such.

Where does 1-4 hours of drive time get you if you live in Florida?

Originally Posted by Mike Peterson

Ft.Lauderdale, Disney World, St.Augustine, Anna Maria Island

EXACTLY...thats my problem.

[Lulu101]

Key West, South Beach

Originally Posted by markhunt

EXACTLY...thats my problem.

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by Lulu101

Key West, South Beach

Sorry, not much of a beach person to begin with, so it's all the same to me. Old and stale after a couple of hours.

Although, I have never been to Key West so I can't really comment other than my assumption of what there is to do there.

[Lulu101]

Ocala National Forest. Everglades. Blue Springs.

Originally Posted by markhunt

Sorry, not much of a beach person to begin with, so it's all the same to me. Old and stale after a couple of hours.

Although, I have never been to Key West so I can't really comment other than my assumption of what there is to do there.

[markhunt]

Originally Posted by Lulu101

Ocala National Forest. Everglades. Blue Springs.

Ocala National Forest, that is somthing I would like to see. are there hiking trails? Rivers, waterfalls (maybe small ones). My only worry about that would be bears, panthers, etc... Do you have to worry about those there?

Blue Springs may interest me as well. Where what is that?

Everglades, not sure that would be my cup of tea. Maybe though, just to see it once.

Good suggestions! Rep for that.

[Lulu101]

Thanks for the rep. Only been to Everglades, actually--you will have to be the pioneer for teh others. Blue Springs is in North Fla. near ocala i think. There are a bunch of springs in No. Fla.

Originally Posted by markhunt

Ocala National Forest, that is somthing I would like to see. are there hiking trails? Rivers, waterfalls (maybe small ones). My only worry about that would be bears, panthers, etc... Do you have to worry about those there?

Blue Springs may interest me as well. Where what is that?

Everglades, not sure that would be my cup of tea. Maybe though, just to see it once.

Good suggestions! Rep for that.

[Lulu101]

you're in orlando right? So Ocala Forest would be a very easy trip for you.

Originally Posted by markhunt

Ocala National Forest, that is somthing I would like to see. are there hiking trails? Rivers, waterfalls (maybe small ones). My only worry about that would be bears, panthers, etc... Do you have to worry about those there?

Blue Springs may interest me as well. Where what is that?

Everglades, not sure that would be my cup of tea. Maybe though, just to see it once.

Good suggestions! Rep for that.

[mrs1885]

A thread I get in the Florida section?? LOL!!

I grew up on Marco Island and had the best childhood any kid could ask for in the 70s. Then the 80s rolled around and Marco was 'discovered' by people with more money than brains or courtesy and it went downhill fast. I moved to Naples, just on the other side of the bridge and later to Golden Gate City and then the Estates.

By mid '00s it was beyond horrendous. The schools were even worse than when I was in school. The weather that everyone calls paradise was unbearable to me anymore. And the people that had moved there - oh, don't even get me started on them.

We moved to TN in May of '06. We live in a town of less than 200 people. The closest place to shop is about 15 minutes away. And even that's getting too big for us. We've been looking to do a modified 'snow bird', spending 8 or 9 months of the year in north coastal Maine and the rest of the year, the winter part, in north KY.

I have to tell you, I do miss the water though. I adore my mountains and can't imagine not looking out the front door to see cows and mountains. But there's something about opening a bedroom window on one of the 5 nice nights per year and smelling that air; hearing those seagulls. Walking the beach super early in the morning when only a few people are around and finding gorgeous perfect shells on the shore. Watching the pipers digging around for coquinas. The little crabs running into their holes when they see you approach.

Don't get me wrong. I'd never go back. I won't even visit Marco. I prefer to remember what Collier County was like when I was little. It was paradise back then. Now it's been destroyed by 'progress', or at least that's how I see it. It rips my heart out. I was the 5th generation in my family on that island. We went back as far as the Calusa indians. That was, and in a way I suppose, always will be home. But now home is only a place in my mind. So sad that life is like that.